Plant Mythbusters: Debunking 5 Viral Plant Hacks with The Chocolate Botanist

Have you ever seen one of those viral plant hack videos where someone sprinkles banana peels in their soil or ices their orchid? If you’re wondering if they work, I hate to be the bearer of bad news because the answer is no. Sorry, plant friends. In this episode, I will be separating fact from fiction with my dear friend, Derek Haynes aka The Chocolate Botanist . Derek is a plant biologist who’s not afraid to call out the myths, explain the real science behind plant care, and help us simplify things. Let’s bust 5 of the biggest houseplant myths floating around online. In this episode, we learn: [01:03] Meet Derek, the Chocolate Botanist [08:03] Fighting misinformation online [10:37] Does banana water work? [15:15] Simplify your plant care with Espoma Organic’s high quality products! [18:05] Which fertilizer is perfect for you? [20:53] Do coffee grounds work? [25:09] Do eggshells work? [28:36] Is it effective to water plants with ice cubes? Mentioned in our conversation: Growing Joy Ep. 283: From Wishlist to Whoops: 2025 Houseplant Trends, Plant Care Tips & Plant Fail Confessions From the Northwest Flower & Garden Show Growing Joy Ep. 116: Houseplant Identification Basics from Derek from The Crazy Botanist Get all the myth-busting goodness in one place... Check out the full show notes and blog here! Follow Derek The Chocolate Botanist: Instagram YouTube Facebook X Thank you to our episode sponsor: Espoma Organic As we welcome the season of growing and gardening, make sure you're using nontoxic products in the garden! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar-powered plant, zero waste manufacturing, and eco-friendly packaging. Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront . Follow Maria and Growing Joy: Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon ! Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.